Labels
This topic around labels fitted well with some themes that arrived from our last session (on instincts).
Some questions around how we grow or evolve emerged and in amongst that the concept of ‘labels’ arrived.
As soon as the word was selected, the realisation that it could lead us into many directions, which it did.
It may be reflective of the times, however our talk and expression, was around dominant culture and how easy it is to be defined and things to be normalised, and the impact of that on individuals and societies.
Once again, the creativity in expression and design of the poems presented, came through.
And some new realisations and understandings brought about by the honest and deep expressions shared by members in the session. At the end of the session, we chose something very unrelated for the next week’s topic. ‘puddles’. If you wish to join in, either with a poem or without, just arrive on the night. Click here for the link
Anti-Vaxxes
Ethics and Morals are top of mind.
Reactions comments can be unkind
Black lives matters
Conscious or not
It’s abused a lot
Cancel Culture
Restricting opinions, identity
Creating bigotry, enmity
Domestic Violence
Eliminate this abuse
There is no excuse
Equity
Uneven opportunities
Rebalances communities
False news
Deceiving by lying
True facts are dying
Gender
Defining the references
Describing preferences
Humanitarian
Human life is sacred
In birth we’re related
Influencers
Social media opionators
Self-proclaimed arbitrators
Jerkweed
Abusive word to disguise
Profanity to chastise
Kvetch (Yiddish)
Complaining persistently
Nagging consistently
Logical
Formalising arguments
Resulting in judgements
Mansplain
Men being condescending
Patronising offending
Nomads
Generation retired
Travelling required
Onboarding
Once called induction
New way of introduction
Political correctness
Wary of sensibilities
Becomes your responsibilities
QAnon
Democracy divided
Conspirators united
Ugly
Unpleasant appearances
Highlighting differences
Refugees
Escaping their frailty
Fear hope and safety
Side-eyed
Showing annoyance
Non-verbal avoidance
Thirsty
Fame and admiration
Seeking validation
Usie
My arm is in the fixture
Me with others in a picture
Vaping
Smoke trails in the air
Many wish not to share
Woke
Alert to society trends
Stay aware and defend
Xenophobic
Foreigners and strangers
Are seen as dangers
Youthquake
Shifts in cultural norms
Awakening new reforms
Zoodles
Noodles of zucchini
Better than fettuccini
PJR 31.01.2022
Labels
‘Homeless’, ‘disabled’, ‘black’, ‘bludgers’…
Are labels that stick
As though sewn in
With thread so thick
It cannot be washed off
Or easily erased
And creates stigma
From the complex interplays
That one label
To me, can seem so large
I cannot move away from it
I cannot even give it a nudge
I cannot unpick that stitch so tight
Woven in with judgement and delight
It is a burden I must carry
Put on me by others
Who would rather put a label on me
That put their arms around my shoulders
This cannot be the only label
That describes all of who I am
Surely I am more than this
The more I have to wear it
The weaker I feel
And the more it seems to fit
There are many tools at work
Designed to tell us who we are
Which we seem to adopt willingly
Introvert, extrovert, enabler
My labels were ‘short’ and ‘silly’
They were used regularly and negatively
Like spears piercing my heart
and axes chopping down my self-esteem
With these labels so deeply tattooed on my soul
It was difficult for the authentic me to emerge and be whole
Until one day ,my deep inner truth and realisation pushed out
Making some holes in the labels and easing the self-doubt
There are still some label scars that remain
However all my relearning and growth have diminished that stain.
It seems to me,
that each whole authentic person
Is so unique
labels are so inadequate,
that there is a lesson
that is not to use them.
NRS 31st Jan 22
Labels are all around us
So the feeling grows
Waiting to be defined
Bringing the highs and lows
When did we learn to give ourselves away?
Every you are and i am
Embeds a message deep
It’s impact not clear at first
It’s manner is to creep
You are clever, I am clever
You are slow , I am slow
You are caring, I am caring
You are funny, I am funny
Being defined is part of the game
There to shine or there to shame
Such the trap, we seek being told
Who we are, that’s what we’re sold
True or not,
Superficially we believe
Like marketing and media
Distorts what we perceive
Is it true?
How will we ever know
Why does it matter,
This is my so…
So we can begin
To dig past the noise and the clatter
And get to the real
Core of the matter
Whether the label is on you,
Food, clothes or other,
Remember, it’s a tool, has been used
To fool one another
So what does it really say,
that label defined
Maybe it’s time
To truly find
For all that is said
It’s never the whole
Be open to notice
And prepared to let go
TLab